What aspect of patient care does the HCAHPS survey primarily assess?

The HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey is designed to assess patients' perspectives on the care they receive during their hospital stay. It focuses on various aspects of patient care, including communication with nurses and doctors, the responsiveness of hospital staff, the cleanliness of the hospital environment, and the overall hospital experience from the patients' point of view.

By capturing patients' views, the HCAHPS survey aims to provide insights that can drive quality improvement initiatives in hospitals. This feedback allows healthcare providers to understand how their services are perceived and identify areas for enhancement, ultimately aiming to improve patient satisfaction and care quality. Other aspects of patient care, such as understanding medical procedures or the attitudes of hospital staff, are involved in the broader context of patient care but are not the primary focus of the HCAHPS survey itself. The survey's emphasis on understanding the patient's perspective distinguishes it as a powerful tool for measuring and improving hospital care delivery.